Algoma District School Board says east end schools could be consolidated in the future

The Algoma District School Board wants to have a conversation about a potential consolidation of public schools in the city’s east end once the moratorium on accommodation review has been lifted by the province.

The moratorium on school closure reviews was implemented by the Ontario government in 2017. 

“I think what we’re waiting for from the Ministry of Education is for the accommodation review process moratorium to be lifted,” said superintendent of business Joe Santa Maria. “That’s been in place for a year-and-a-half now, so it doesn’t allow us to have discussions with respect to consolidations and capital needs within our board, and any board in Ontario at this point.”

“But what we’ve always said is that two to three in the east end of our city are aging, and we would like to have a new school option down the road.”

Queen Elizabeth Public School, Anna McCrea Public School and Parkland Public School have been identified by the board as schools that are aging.    

“We’ve done a good job of maintaining the schools, but any of the significant work that we would be looking to do is always factored into our decision making from a capital standpoint,” Santa Maria said.  

When asked if the former site of Sir James Dunn Collegiate and Vocational School could serve as a potential site for a consolidated school, Santa Maria told SooToday that the idea hasn’t been discussed at the board level thus far.

Sir James Dunn ceased operation as a secondary school in 2011, and was used for other purposes up until its demolition in the summer of 2016.

“I think all options are on the table as far as locations and so on, but we haven’t discussed that as a board yet,” Santa Maria said. “That’s part of our next year’s capital plan discussions, and we haven’t had any discussions on that yet.”